Monthly Archives: June 2014

The second week of NYSIP 2014 began with Summer Cruisin’, organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY) and the Hovnanian School Alumni, which took over 200 local Armenians, including the AGBU interns, on a boat tour around the Big Apple. Clear skies and warm weather were the perfect start for a new week in the city.

Meetings with industry leaders are a key part of the NYSIP experience, and in their second week, the interns had two. The first was a candid discussion with Aram Babikian, the Northwest Regional Director of Direxion Funds and NYSIP alumnus. Babikian reflected on his NYSIP experience, NYSIP intern, the challenges he faced during his rise to the top of his field, and career development.

After his lecture, Aram Babikian (Center), Senior Vice President and Region Director - Northwest of Direxion Funds, took time to pose for a photo with the AGBU NYSIP 2014 Interns

Raffi Balian, a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State, and Co-Chairperson of the NYSIP committee also took time to speak with the interns via Skype from Budapest. Raffi discussed the history of NYSIP, which was founded by his parents Vartkess and Rita Balian. He also spoke about the challenges faced by present-day Armenians both in Armenia and in the diaspora, and offered advice on the next steps the AGBU interns should be taking to further their blossoming careers.

Social events included a walking tour around the West Village, cupcakes at the world famous Magnolia’s Bakery, and a visit to the High Line, a public park built on a historic freight rail line that overlooks the streets of Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. No stay in New York would be complete without a visit to Times Square, where the interns enjoyed the local attractions and took a ride on the Toys ‘r Us Ferris wheel.

Finally, the YPGNY hosted Mentoring Program began on Thursday, June 26, with the Meet and Greet event at Amity Hall in the West Village. For the duration of NYSIP, each intern is paired with a YPGNY mentor, a young professional working in the intern’s chosen field. Mentors help their interns set goals, develop contacts, and identify resources, all while providing a friendly shoulder to lean on during the summer and beyond.

AGBU is proud to be hosting the 27th group of New York summer interns, and we couldn’t do it without your support. NYSIP donors allow us to meet the rising costs of hosting the program each summer, to provide scholarships to high-achieving students, and to keep the doors of our internship program open to all deserving applicants. Click here to help fund a NYSIP intern’s scholarship today..

With the beginning of another New York summer comes the start of a new and exciting NYSIP experience. On Sunday, June 15, 2014, 31 university students from Armenia, Brazil, Canada, France, Lebanon, Romania, Syria, the UK, and the US arrived in New York to gain a leg up in their chosen career path, form lifelong friendships, and experience the working world in the business hub of the United States. After settling into their dorm rooms at the NYU 13th Street Residence Hall, interns met and got to know each other over a welcome dinner at Spice restaurant.

The following day the group visited the AGBU Central Office for lunch and a formal orientation session, preparing them for the two month experience which lies ahead of them. After the group visited NYU’s Card Center to obtain their permanent NYU IDs, the interns returned to their dorm rooms to prepare for the first day of their internships. This year, their host institutions include Deutsche Bank, Horizon Media, Human Rights Watch, and the NYU Medical Center.

After-work events have always been an integral part of the NYSIP experience and the interns spent Thursday night with Serge Kassardjian of Google, who discussed Professional Networking in Career Development. Friday night was spent at a welcome party graciously hosted by NYSIP supporter Edele Hovnanian at her beautiful Manhattan apartment. There, over dinner, the interns discussed the issues and challenges facing the Armenian community today. On Saturday, the interns were grouped into teams of four for the annual I <3 NYSIP Scavenger Hunt, competing for the prize of major league baseball tickets. The hunt sends interns off to see as much of Manhattan as possible in the span of three hours.

Serge Kassardjian of Google presents his lecture on Professional Networking in Career Development for the 2014 NYSIP interns.

AGBU is proud to be hosting the 27th group of New York summer interns, and we couldn’t do it without your support. NYSIP donors allow us to meet the rising costs of hosting the program each summer, to provide scholarships to high-achieving students, and to keep the doors of our internship program open to all deserving applicants. Click hereto help fund a NYSIP intern’s scholarship today.

AGBU NYSIP 2014 interns recieve a grand welcome to New York City at a private party hosted by Edele Hovnanian (Back row, third from left)